By Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe Esq.
The Action of Setting of MT Deima vessel Ablaze by Tompolo and his men is an act of illegality, environmental pollution and jungle justice.
We read with wide jubilation how the vessel allegedly caught loading supposed illegal crude oil in Delta by the Tompolo’s led Tantita Security Service Limited was set Ablaze on Monday 10th October, 2022 along the Warri River in Delta Stat.
It is not news that the Tompolo and his security outfit are the new sheriff in the Marine world to tackle the illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta region.
Those that are perceived to be into crimes hardly exercise any of their constitutional rights because of the fear of the outrage or outcry that would erode same hence many criticized the notorious kidnapper Evans when he approached the court for the enforcement of his fundamental right after a prolonged detention.
We must remind ourselves that the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria is supreme over any law or legislation establishing institutions or agencies and it’s sacred provisions essentially on right to presumption of innocence is supreme over any act of suspicion hence it abhors jungle trial.
The act of lifting illegally bunkered product is illegal and makes it an offence and the law is trite to the effect that any one accused of an offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty. So where is that right of presumption of innocent?
Again no man can be a judge in his own cause. As in this case, Tompolo and his men made the arrest, adjudged the vessel owner guilty of the offence, convicted and sentenced him and made an order for the destruction of his vessel.
Do not also forget that by the destruction, they have also destroyed our national assets (i.e the crude already loaded in the vessel) or are they going to say the vessel was about to be loaded? How do you now prove the vessel was conveying an illegal product.
When you compare the volume of crude already in the vessel before same was burnt down you can imagine what will become of the aquatic life and environmental impact on the people.
We have a culture of celebrating the downfall of the rich but never forget the vessel owner might not be aware his vessel is on rentage for a supposed illegal business.
Jungle justice is not justice. * Although several quarters have held the position and drew my attention after this post that the vessel was set Ablaze by the military authority, I refused to agree the military will solely set the said vessel Ablaze without the knowledge of the Marine sheriff who has attributeD same as his victory recorded.
Omes Ogedegbe Esq
Director General
Confab for the Actualization of human right